NJ fire that could be smelled in NYC is contained

WASHINGTON, N.J. (AP) — Fire officials say a southern New Jersey brush fire that could be smelled 90 miles away in New York City has been contained.

Assistant Division Forest Fire Warden Michael Achey says the fire in Wharton State Forest was deemed contained at 4 p.m. Monday, about 24 hours after it was first spotted. It burned 1,600 acres, or about 2 square miles.

Achey says crews were to be sent home Monday evening. Heavy rain was expected to move into the area, which could help put out the areas that continue to burn.

No one was injured and no structures were damaged in the remote pineland area but the smoke could be smelled far away earlier in the day. Officials say that’s because chilly morning air pushed the smoke back down.